Share the Road – The Month of May is National Motorcycle Safety Month

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, designed to encourage all drivers and motorcyclists to “share the road” with each other and help reduce the number of motorcycle accidents and fatalities. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Motorcyclist fatalities increased in 2012 to 4,957, accounting for 15 percent of total fatalities for the year.”

severe-motorcycle-accident

NHTSA Motorcycle Accident Statistics:

  • On a per vehicle mile basis, motorcyclists are more than 30 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of cars, and five times more likely to be injured.
  • Head injury is the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes. Helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders. NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of more than 1,600 motorcyclists in 2011.

To prevent the increased trend of motorcyclist’s deaths and injuries, NHTSA offers the following safety recommendations:

Tips for Motorcyclists:

motorcycle rider

  • Never ride impaired or distracted.
  • Obey traffic laws, wear DOT-compliant helmets and other protective gear.
  • Make yourself visible by wearing bright colors and using reflective tape.
  • Avoid riding in poor weather conditions.
  • Use turn signals for every turn or lane change, even if you think no one will see it.
  • Combine hand signals and turn signals to draw more attention to yourself.
  • Position yourself in the lane where you will be most visible to other drivers.

Tips for Drivers:

car driver

  • Never drive distracted. Doing so can result in tragic consequences for motorcyclists.
  • Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width. Although it may seem that there is enough room in the traffic lane for a motor vehicle and a motorcycle, the motorcycle needs the room to maneuver safely. Do not share the lane.
  • Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic. This allows motorcyclists to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position.
  • Because of its smaller size, a motorcyclist can be hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot. Always check for motorcycles by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
  • Turn signals on motorcycles are not the same as those on motor vehicles – motorcycle signals are usually not self-canceling and riders sometimes forget to turn them off. Allow enough time to determine the motorcyclist’s intention before you proceed.
  • Remember that road conditions that are minor annoyances to motorists can pose major hazards to motorcyclists. Motorcycle riders may change speed or adjust position within a lane suddenly in reaction to road and traffic conditions such as potholes, gravel, wet or slippery surfaces, pavement seams, railroad crossings, and grooved pavement.
  • Allow more following distance, three or four seconds, when following a motorcycle so the motorcycle rider has enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. In dry conditions, motorcycles can stop more quickly than cars.

If you or someone you know has been in a motorcycle accident call 1-800-992-6878 or submit an online contact form today.

Source:

  • www.nhtsa.gov
Author Photo

Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

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